Cast & Crew

CAST

KELLYE JANEL(“Jackie”) was introduced to theatrical productions while growing up as a multi-ethnic child in Harlem, New York. She joined the Kumba Kids, a traveling theatre group that performed plays and poetry by great minds such as Nikki Giovanni and Langston Hughes. Ms. Janel also joined the Ruth Williams Dance Studio where she studied ballet and tap and later moved on to learn modern, jazz, pointe, and African dance techniques. She has graced the well-known stages of the Metropolitan Opera House, Lincoln Center, and Aaron Davis Hall.

After attending college Ms. Janel returned to her first true love, acting. She worked with Spike Lee’s protégé Michael Boogie Pinckney, on Shotgun Poet, Troy Shawn Welcome and The Club; and on Tony Clomax’s Twelve Steps to Recovery and Boyz, Girlz and Sparkz web series. More recently, Ms. Janel has worked on Da Johnsons, a TV pilot by Catch Me If You Can Productions, and enjoyed her first lead role in Tamika Guishard’s short film Jackie.

SOARA-JOYE ROSS(“Ronnie”) is a native New Yorker and a graduate of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy and The J. Beckson Studio. She is a proud member of Screen Actors Guild and Actors Equity Association. Her Broadway credits include LES MISERABLES the Revival and DANCE of the VAMPIRES where she made her Broadway debut. Soara-Joye received The New York Musical Theater Festival’ “Best of Fest/Outstanding Individual Performance Award” for her portrayal of Mama Lila in the new musical CROSS THAT RIVER. She has numberable off-Broadway, regional and international stage credits under her belt and has worked on projects with Academy-Award winner Natalie Portman and Motown legend Gladys Knight.

Born in Queens, New York, Ms. Ross was adopted by Rita and Joseph Ross at a young age. She has since reconnected with some of her birth family and discovered that she is a Type 1 Diabetic (or Diva-betic as she calls it.) She now resides in Brooklyn, New York with her Pomeranian, Lyric, and holds the story told by Tamika Guishard’s Jackie. close to her heart.